Simon paused and glared at the door. "They are his 'escort' service. Apparently he suspected I wouldn't heed a written invitation."
I snorted. "I wonder why he'd think that. So we're going where?"
"To Avalon Island in the bay where Basileus will no doubt pass judgment on us."
I frowned. "But we haven't done-well, we haven't done too much wrong, have we?"
Simon pursed his lips. "That remains to be seen. Now dress."
"I can't wait to see the jury of our peers. . ." I muttered as my eyes flickered to Certus. He stood with his back to us and his eyes on the door.
I slipped the sheet off and hurriedly dressed. Simon looped his arm through mine and led us out of the room. The intruders stood where we left them. Their leader stepped forward and gestured to the front door.
"If you will follow us."
A long elevator ride and a quick walk through the foyer, and we were on the streets. A single black limo sat on the curb. The leader opened the door, and we slid inside. The door was shut and the car pulled into traffic.
I looked out the window and squirmed in the seat beside Simon. "So have you ever met this Basileus guy?"
Simon nodded. "Many times over the centuries."
"And I'm guessing you two don't see eye-to-eye."
A small smile slipped onto Simon's lips. "Not often."
My heart sank. Simon grasped my chin between his fingers and lifted my eyes to his. "Whatever happens, know that you will be safe." He glanced across the way at Certus. "If the worst comes, I entrust her safety to you."
Certus closed his eyes and bowed his head. "I gladly accept responsibility."
And that was the cheerful car ride to the private docks. We were taken aboard a large yacht that resembled a cruise liner and guided to the bow. The car in which we traveled was taken below deck via a loading ramp. The ship weighed anchor and the shoreline receded behind us. Before us was the dark waves of the bay and the black silhouette of Avalon Island.
I clutched onto the railing and watched the island grow larger. In an hour the island loomed ahead of us. Two long white docks stood as sentries over the water and connected with the shoreline of the island. The yacht parked in the largest berth that sat closest to the island. The docks ended at the land where they met a paved road. The road wound its way up a steep, terraced hill littered with boulders, wild flowers, and tall softwood trees.
The top was topped with a large fortress-like abode that shattered the endless blue sky above the island. The walls were a gloomy gray and topped by a parapet. A single stone tower stood at attention at the front left corner. The tall, thin windows gazed out on the waters with haughty indifference. A large lawn surrounded the bottom of the walls like a green moat, and I glimpsed a few smaller buildings on the grounds.
The car was removed from the ship and we were driven up the road to the castle. The leader of the cloaked figures led us beneath the archway and into the foyer of the spacious stone structure. Above us soared the high ceiling with its open rafter layout. The back wall held a long reception desk and to the right were the stone stairs that led to the higher floors. A passageway to the right of the stairs led to other rooms on the ground floor. To our left and right were wooden archways. The left led to a large dining room while the right was a grand sitting room.
It was to that room that we were led. The long sitting room contained the living room furniture and a pair of pool tables at the back. The dark paneled walls flanked a large stone fireplace centered in the wall opposite the entrance. The thick curtains on either side the wide paned windows were open and let us look out on the yard and the open waters of the bay.
I jumped when the doors behind us were shut with a soft, ominous click. The lead intruder and his minions had left us.
But we weren't the first ones in the room. A man rose from one of the chairs and turned to us. He was about forty-five with gray streaks in his temples and a complexion that was a blood-brother to that of Simon.
The man smiled and bowed his head to us. "Good evening, my honored guests."
CHAPTER 2
Simon wrapped his arm around me and his eyebrows crashed down. "Why have you brought us here, Basileus?"
Basileus picked up a wine glass from the table beside his chair and held it up. "First, won't you have a drink with me?" My nostrils flared when I smelled the scent of blood in the glass.
Simon tightened his grip on me. "A prisoner has a right to know why they have been imprisoned."
Basileus sighed and put the glass down. "I see we are to be enemies here. It is all your fault, you know. You forced my hand in bringing you here."
"Do tell," Simon quipped.
Basileus stepped back and swept his hand over the furniture. "If you would have a seat, then I will be glad to discuss the matter with you."
Simon led our group to the furniture. He and I took our seats on a horse-hair couch, and Certus placed himself opposite us and to the right of Basileus's chair.
Our 'host' seated himself and studied us. "I am sure I don't need to list your recent exploits, particularly since she-" he nodded at me, "-came into your life."
Simon arched an eyebrow. "What has our entertainment to do with you?"
Basileus frowned. He sat at attention and the clip of his words quickened. "What you term 'entertainment' is a risk to the entire paranormal community. Your reckless behavior threatens to reveal us to the human world."
A crooked grin onto Simon's lips. "Has it?"
Basileus shifted in his seat. "No, but as I said, you have been most reckless and-"
"And I see no reason why we have been kidnapped and brought here," Simon interrupted. "We have broken no laws, written or otherwise. We have merely played the game, and in one of our games-" his gaze met that of Basileus, "-you lost."
Basileus's eyebrows crashed down. His lips curled back and revealed his long, sharp teeth. "Yes, I admit you humiliated me when you stole that shipment. However, I consider it a learning experience and hold no ill-will toward you."
I snorted. "So that's why your invitation was at the end of a bunch of fists."
Basileus coughed into his hand. "The manner in which I brought you was necessary. I believed you would refuse a less direct request."
Simon nodded. "You would be correct. We had no need to see you."
Basileus frowned. "I told you before you knowingly risked the exposure of every paranormal creature in the city with your recklessness. That is why I have brought you here to face punishment." His eyes fell on Certus and me. "I will, however, not hold vampire fledglings responsible for the actions of their masters, nor even their own while under his influence."
"And what is that punishment?" Simon inquired.
Basileus looked into Simon's eyes. "Destruction."
My heart skipped a beat. I jumped to my feet and balled my hands into fists at my sides. "You can't be serious! Who the hell made you God that you could just take anybody out and kill them?"
Basileus sighed. "I said-"
"I know what you said!" I snapped. "I don't care if it's destruction or digestion! It still means you're murdering people!"
Simon's heavy hand fell on my shoulder. I looked up to see his gaze fell on Basileus and eyes were narrowed. "You are a man, such as you are, of your worthless principles, but you have not waited this long to bring us here without reason."
Basileus frowned. "I told you-"
"That you wished to punish our past transgressions, but your timing is slightly late." A sly smile curled onto Simon's lips. "If I believed my senses, I would wonder if you hadn't brought us here for some purpose other than to destroy me."
Basileus' face darkened and he turned his face away from us. "We shall say your punishment is well-deserved." His eyes flickered back to us. "That is, unless you were to do something for me."
Simon arched an eyebrow. "And that would be what?"
Basileus swept his hand toward the entrance to the room. "If you would come with me."
/> Our kind host led us from the room and up the grand stairs. Simon and I walked shoulder-to-shoulder. Certus sidled up to walk behind and to Simon's right. I watched his lips move, but no sound came to my ears.
Simon smiled and shook his head. "I don't believe that will be necessary." Certus bowed his head and retreated a few steps.
I glanced at Simon. "What's that about?"
He chuckled. "Certus was curious to know if I wished to leave immediately and if he should prepare the boat for departure."
I blinked at him. "We can leave any time?"
Simon's eyes glistened with that dangerous glint. "Perhaps."
Basileus guided us deep into the second floor of his large home. He stopped at a door in the far right corner of the building. The entrance was decorated with painted diagrams and stick-figure symbols. The largest of the paintings was a hexagram made up of two interlocking triangles, each painted different colors. One was red, and the other black.
We entered and found ourselves in a small suite. The space wreaked of herbs and burnt food. Tables covered the space in front of us, and atop them were chicken feathers, bones from a wide assortment of small animals, and large glass vials filled with brackish-looking liquids.
Opposite the entrance were large windows and a sliding glass door that looked out on a balcony, and beyond that the rocks and the bay water that crashed into them. To our left lay a kitchen, and beyond that a short hallway to a closed door and a bathroom.
Basileus led us through to the closed door where he leaned toward the entrance and knocked. "Madam Bentley? May we enter?"
"Come in," croaked a voice that sounded a thousand years old.
Our host opened the portal and revealed a bedroom draped in black. Black curtains covered the windows to the bay, black rugs covered the floor, and black covers were draped over a small figure on the small bed.
It was a woman. She appeared to be just shy of Methuselah's age with her thin strands of white hair and so many wrinkles she would make a basset hound jealous. Her short stature barely reached the end of the five-foot long bed, and her gnarled hands with long, sharp fingernails clutched the top of the covers. Her attire, was little we could see, was a simple black dress, and atop her head was a small, round hot water bottle. The woman's face was a ghastly pale color, worse than Simon's, and her eyes were filmy.
She leaned forward and squinted her eyes at us. "What is it? What's wanted?"
Basileus walked over to her bedside and bowed to her. "I apologize for interrupting you, Madam Bentley, but I may have a solution to your problem."
The old woman scowled at him. "It's nothing my skills can't cure if I could just-" She was interrupted by a violent coughing fit. Her whole body trembled beneath the covers. She gathered herself and fell back against her pillows. "If I could just get out of this blasted bed."
Basileus bowed his head. "I understand that, Madam Bentley, but-"
"But nothing!" Her furious gaze fell on Simon. Her eyes narrowed and she pointed a trembling finger at him. "What is he doing here?"
Simon smiled and strode forward. He stopped beside the bed and bowed low to her. "Good afternoon, Madam Bentley."
She sneered at him. "Don't give me any of that, Cruor. What are you doing here?"
Simon straightened and his mischievous eyes flitted to Basileus. "I believe your employer can explain that better than I."
Basileus pursed his lips. "Then you have guessed?"
Simon nodded. "Yes, though I wonder how this-" he swept his hand over Bentley, "-came about."
Madam Bentley whipped her head to Basileus. "What is the meaning of this? Why have you brought him to me?"
I raised my hand. "I'd like to second that question."
Basileus bowed to Bentley. "If you will excuse us."
Bentley struggled to sit up. "No, I will not excuse you. Why have you brought him to me?" She waved her hand at us. "Who are these others?"
Our host sighed. "If you wish to know."
She gave a firm nod. "I do."
I yelped when something hit the back of my knees. I whipped my head around and found it was Certus. He held a chair and the front had bumped against me.
I gave him a sheepish smile as I sat down. "Thanks." Simon moved back to us and stood beside me while Certus stood behind.
Basileus moved to the center of the room and gestured to the irate woman. "This is Madam Bentley, a very old-" Bentley's eyes narrowed, "-a very long and very loyal employee to me," he corrected himself.
Bentley leaned back against her pillows and glared at Simon. "And trustworthy." Simon smiled and bowed his head.
I looked the short woman over. "What's she do?"
Bentley's angered eyes fell on me. "More than you can imagine. I can conjure spirits from the other side, perform spells that would freeze your blood, and-"
"You were always quite terrible at making tea," Simon spoke up.
The old woman crossed her arms and slid down her pillows. "Tea-making is not necessary for my witchcraft."
Simon bowed to her. "I stand corrected. It must be that all brews are meant to be cooked until they are burnt."
She scowled at him. "And vampires such as yourself are meant to see the light of full sun."
Basileus stepped between them and raised his hand. "This is an ill time for disagreements." He glanced at Bentley. "I am loathe to admit this myself, but we are in need of his assistance. Your magic cannot help us."
I glanced at Simon and pointed at the wizened old woman. "Is she someone important?"
Bentley slammed her fists down on the covers. "You foolish girl! I'm one of the most powerful witches in the world!"
I snorted. "It must be a small club."
She narrowed her eyes and raised on hand. "Would you like a demonstration?" She wiggled her fingers at me while her lips moved, though no sound came out.
Simon and Basileus leapt at her at the same time I felt a stab of pain hit me in my chest. I clutched my chest over my heart as it beat hard and fast against my ribs. I leaned forward and lost my balance as my body stiffened. I slipped off my chair to one side. Certus caught me and lowered me to the floor.
Simon was at my side in a moment. He wrenched my hand from my chest and placed his palm over my heart. The cold from his hand soaked through my clothes and sank into my flesh. My body shivered as it sank into a figurative lake of chill. The world darkened around me like someone had drawn a curtain over a window. My eyes flickered to the far right corner of the room and widened. A dark shadow the height of a man stood in the corner. The form was like that of someone robed in a black cloak. A hood covered their head and shrouded their face in impenetrable darkness.
They raised one arm. The long black sleeve slid back to reveal a skeletal hand. In those bony fingers was a long dagger. The blade glistened, but at the same time it reflected nothing in the room. What was reflected was my terrified face as the thing floated towards me.
I opened my mouth in a soundless scream and tried to scramble backward. My body wouldn't obey me. Simon followed where my wild-eyed gaze lay. His eyes narrowed. He stretched out his arm towards the cloaked figure and held open his palm toward it.
"Begone!"
The creature threw up its arms and let out a blood-curdling shriek. Its form disappeared like a dust mural against a harsh gale. The thing was gone, but far from forgotten.
CHAPTER 3
With the disappearance of the figure went most of the cold chill over my body. I sucked in a giant bubble of air and shuddered.
Simon turned his red eyes on the bed. Basileus stood at the side with his hands on Bentley's shoulders. Her head lay to one side and her hands gripped the covers. Her eyes were shut and her breathing was erratic. Sharp hisses escaped her clenched teeth. Spasms shook her body and caused her back to arch.
Basileus pressed her back down. "Madam Bentley! Fight the sickness! Control it!" His shouted words lessened her spasms. Her body relaxed and her breathing evened.
Simon help
ed me sit up. His eyes searched my face and his voice was soft. "Are you all right?"
My body still trembled, but I nodded. My voice was hoarse. "I-I think so."
Simon glanced at Certus who knelt on my other side. "Hold her for a moment." Certus nodded and took me in his arms.
Simon rose and faced the bed. His fangs peeked over his top lip and bit into his lower one. Thin streams of blood poured down his chin as he strode over to the bed.
Basileus stepped in front of him. "Not all the blame for what happened to your fledgling lies with Madam Bentley. The illness from which she suffers is having an effect on both her mind and body."
Simon narrowed his eyes at Basileus. "No, but she will be the one to remove the curse."
My eyes widened. Certus had to hold me down keep me from standing. "Curse?" I choked out.
Basileus glanced from me to Simon. "Let us go downstairs where your fledgling can be made more comfortable."
"The curse must be removed immediately," Simon demanded.
Basileus closed his eyes and shook his head. "The spell she cast drained much of her energy. She may not awaken for several days, if not weeks."
"My lord," Certus spoke up. All eyes turned to us. Certus nodded down at me. "She requires rest and blood."
Simon closed his eyes. His shoulders fell and his body relaxed. He opened his eyes and nodded. "Very well."
Simon strode over to me and lifted me into his arms. He carried me downstairs back to the living room. Certus and Basileus followed. Simon set me on the couch and turned to Basileus who took position near the mantel with its crackling fire.
"What is it you want us to do?" Simon asked our 'host.'
"Wait a sec," I spoke up as I sat up. I glanced from Simon to Basileus and back. "Could I get caught up on everything? Like what's wrong with that other woman and what's wrong with me?"
Basileus stared into the fire and pursed his lips. "Madam Bentley is a very powerful witch. It is she who manages the dungeon depths of this island where a great deal of magic resides."
I arched an eyebrow. "I'm following you so far."
He turned to us and clasped his hands behind his back. "A short time ago a letter arrived for her. She carelessly opened the envelope without checking the contents and was cursed with the illness which you witnessed. It is a curse that attacks the mind and body. Some days she is herself and others days she is barely conscious. Oftentimes, her mood swings from gentle to as you saw her: vindictive."